Pandemic made “working from home” the new normal. But women in India adapted to the gig economy before it even became the norm. Here’s the tea…

 

Who runs the world?

Women who have managed to crack the work-life balance!

Through the 20th century, women stood up in times of crisis and set aside their traditional roles to serve their nations during wartime. They fought against societal expectations and pushed their way into the workforce. They demonstrated that their contribution was just as valuable as their male counterparts. 

Today, we’re experiencing another turning point. The rise of the gig economy has enabled women to take up jobs that have traditionally been dominated by men – from taxi driving through Uber, Lyft or Sakha Cabs for Women, to freelance computer programming through Upwork. Others have pushed for greater financial freedom by taking on side gigs, like taking online surveys or selling beauty/wellness products for Amway. 

But all share one thing in common: female gig workers are part of a growing and important segment of the larger workforce with the potential to push the boundaries of participation once again.

Why Do Women Prefer To Work Independently?

The gig economy has accelerated women’s movement into the workforce. And it is safe to say that due to the flexibility of work hours and the reduced dependence on a static physical space, women have been able to secure their jobs. There are several reasons why women seek more flexibility at work or suffer a job loss due to the lack of it.

Women self-select into independent work roles where greater autonomy defines the work, where the role allows for greater freedom to make decisions and structure activities, and where the workweeks are shorter—allowing for greater temporal flexibility.

In fact, a recent survey of 2,000 women (a majority of whom were the primary caregivers) found that 96% indicated that flexibility was the primary advantage of independent work. A quarter of those women recently left traditional employment, a majority of them because they needed flexibility or more time to care for a child, parent, or relative.

According to a gig worker’s report, following were the top three types of professional roles that female respondents participated in:

Women are new to gig work but here to stay…

Out of the 2000 female respondents, 70 percent of female gig workers were the primary caregivers in their homes and 59 percent had spouses with full-time careers and contributed at home. 61 percent of female gig workers would like to make gig work their full-time career.

Way Ahead

It is inevitable that the unprecedented growth of gig work in India, especially post-pandemic, will be steady. Women are increasingly opting for flexible and high-growth roles. Businesses need to identify the gaps that make these jobs easily accessible to them and in turn creating a better future of work for gig economy.

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Individual workers can also register on the Xcel Online Survey platform to take quick surveys and earn money through reliable and sustainable means.

About Xcel Online Surveys

Research, the most significant tool of man’s evolution, progress & growth becomes even more significant when it is applied to the market. It decides the fate of an enterprise. Winning or losing depends entirely on the keen understanding of the perennial need of consumers. 

Xcel Online Survey is one such platform that lets individuals take unlimited online surveys in exchange for exciting rewards & coupons. Xcel Surveys have become growingly popular amongst users, making it a great platform for businesses to gather key consumer insights & top market trends.